New to Saltwater, Hello

[GElliot]

Hi all. I've had FW tanks for decades, recently widowed and bit off doing a SW tank for the first time as a needed distraction. Nothing to show yet, just built the reef and curing it before I put it in the tank.
But excited to get started on cycling.
I know AIOs illicit strong feelings, good and bad, but I decided to start with a HelloReef Clownfish and Anemone 15 gallon. I figured the tutorial would be useful and when parts go out I can replace them with better ones,
Hope to post a few photos soon.

 

[rayadog]

Awesome! Have fun tinkering! Looking forward to see what you come up with!

 

[Subsea]

Hi all. I've had FW tanks for decades, recently widowed and bit off doing a SW tank for the first time as a needed distraction. Nothing to show yet, just built the reef and curing it before I put it in the tank.
But excited to get started on cycling.
I know AIOs illicit strong feelings, good and bad, but I decided to start with a HelloReef Clownfish and Anemone 15 gallon. I figured the tutorial would be useful and when parts go out I can replace them with better ones,
Hope to post a few photos soon.

I had to laugh at your signature. Sage wisdom as well.

“I have been more than distracted as I have been addicted for 55 years.”

Aside from a distraction, what is your vision for your 15G display? What did you like about your fresh water tanks?

More strategically, what does “built my reef mean” and how do you plan to cycle this tank?

 

[GElliot]

I had to laugh at your signature. Sage wisdom as well.

“I have been more than distracted as I have been addicted for 55 years.”

Aside from a distraction, what is your vision for your 15G display? What did you like about your fresh water tanks?

More strategically, what does “built my reef mean” and how do you plan to cycle this tank?

:) true advice, lol.

I meant I was bonding my hardscape and letting it cure. I got it in the tank last night and water and salt in. I think I'll actually pull one separate Tonga branch rock that I put in. It's just sitting on the sand off to the side of my main structure. I'm a maximalist by nature, so hard to cure my desire to fill every available space.

Coco Chanel said: "Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and remove one accessory"
So, after sitting with it for a day, less is more. That dead space I like to fill up.... I think everything I want will be happier with room to move a little.

Cycling, I'm just following instructions basically. I punked out last night after staying up too late with starting it. I have not added anything but the salt. The kit came with a bottle of Dr. Tim's One and Only, which I have not put in yet. Looking around on the net it looks like many people are preferring Fritz TurboStart 9000.
So, I have done nothing yet with additives until I read some more about them. Can't hurt to put it off, right?

Other than anemones and a couple of clownfish, I don't know other than a clean-up crew.
My inverts are actually what I enjoy the most in my FW tanks. I adore my scrimps (lol shrimps) and crab and crayfish. So really looking forward to having a fun and diverse crew of janitors on board.

I like things to happen fast, but I also obsess about researching before I decide on anything. I gather that will be a big help when it comes to building a great tank. It took me three weeks of fiddling to do my rockscape, so planning the inhabitants will be lengthy but fun.

 

[fishface NJ]

Welcome to R2R!!!!

 

[kevgib67]

Welcome, glad you are here!

 

[GElliot]

Update/few photos
I have already changed this somewhat, removed the Tonga branch rock on the left and tilted the structure a bit.
I'll put up new photos later.

 

[Subsea]

:) true advice, lol.

I meant I was bonding my hardscape and letting it cure. I got it in the tank last night and water and salt in. I think I'll actually pull one separate Tonga branch rock that I put in. It's just sitting on the sand off to the side of my main structure. I'm a maximalist by nature, so hard to cure my desire to fill every available space.

Coco Chanel said: "Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and remove one accessory"
So, after sitting with it for a day, less is more. That dead space I like to fill up.... I think everything I want will be happier with room to move a little.

Cycling, I'm just following instructions basically. I punked out last night after staying up too late with starting it. I have not added anything but the salt. The kit came with a bottle of Dr. Tim's One and Only, which I have not put in yet. Looking around on the net it looks like many people are preferring Fritz TurboStart 9000.
So, I have done nothing yet with additives until I read some more about them. Can't hurt to put it off, right?

Other than anemones and a couple of clownfish, I don't know other than a clean-up crew.
My inverts are actually what I enjoy the most in my FW tanks. I adore my scrimps (lol shrimps) and crab and crayfish. So really looking forward to having a fun and diverse crew of janitors on board.

I like things to happen fast, but I also obsess about researching before I decide on anything. I gather that will be a big help when it comes to building a great tank. It took me three weeks of fiddling to do my rockscape, so planning the inhabitants will be lengthy but fun.

Because I emulate nature, I have evolved to being a minimalist reef keeper.

Consider cycling your tank with diver collected live rock. You won’t have to research your clean up crew. By bringing in micro fauna & fana you establish multiple nutrient pathways to recycle nutrients and feed your tank.

@GElliot
PS: I saw your maximalist note about filling every space. Not a good idea with respect to circulation in a reef tank.

 

[GElliot]

Nothing much of an update other than I have finally gotten the cycling off to a good start.

I did end up using the Dr. Tim's that was included, nothing. Several weeks go by, Nothing. All I have been able to figure out after only a spot or two of 'ugly' is that the one included was quite stale and dead.

Contacted help (which was answered by BRS, which I was already trusting) and they pointed me in a lot more detailed instructions. I still think the HelloReef kit was worth it to get a newbie's feet wet but the classes need more depth and I took their suggestion to not over-research probably a bit too far.

I'm a compulsive researcher, so I should have taken the middle road. The people at BRS are great though. I ended up buying another bottle of the same from an Amazon seller with a good reputation, money back guarantee of a live product. Added it and got to the ugly phase within a couple of days.

The HelloReef downplays testing, does not even mention it until 'weeks' later in the classes. So I am going to be using Hannah Instruments tests so I do not have to rely on reading color. I am not colorblind but I am old and have worn glasses for over 60 years, eyes are just plain old not great.

So, I've done nothing. I'm going to be learning how to use the testing over the weekend, that seems overwhelming. I also hear, read, and know from experience that only the learning and first few times are even a thing. After learning it, with repetition it will being nothing at all.

I'm good with patience, All I have researched is that this part can take as long as it takes. Longer is probably even better. Not hurting anything because I have added nothing live. Hell, for all I know I might be done after getting these first readings and it's been doing it's job great just leaving things be..

Looking forward to building a cuc, starting small and steady, not all of them at once. And not a huge number either. The courses are suggesting a lot right off the bat, 5 hermits, 10 snails, 1 Skunk Cleaner shrimp, 2 Peppermint or Fire Reds, and an urchin.

Only thing I'm pretty much decided on is a Tuxedo Urchin, a Skunk shrimp, 5 hermits, and 5 Trochus snails. Carnivorous snails, don't know yet and other shrimp the same. Welcome to any suggestions as to which of those to get or anything else that might be useful. Fun is good too, I've thought about sexy shrimp because of their antics. I am planning on adding an Emerald crab too.

Nothing else anytime soon, although fish wise I'm going to start with just a couple of non-fancy clowns. Just not until the cuc are good and settled and the tank has been stable for a while.

I don't even have anything in there and I am still clucking after it like an old mother hen, lol. This has been great so far for it's intended purpose, taking my mind off. No pets because the house is torn up preparing it to be wheelchair ready and now it doesn't have to be so I am in limbo trying to decide whether or not to continue, go back, or pitch it all and move. This is helping a lot. 31st Anniversary was 4/8 and 4/10 was six months since the other half died. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has taken the plunge to deal with life changing events.